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Caption:
Coral Sea (June 23, 2005) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG
63) operates as Plane Guard in support of the conventionally powered
aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during evening flight
operations. Used primarily at night, the mission of the Plane Guard
ship is to aid and rescue aircrew if they have to eject from their
aircraft upon landing on the aircraft carrier. Cowpens and Kitty Hawk
are currently operating in the Coral Sea in support of the combined
exercise Talisman Sabre 2005. Talisman Sabre is an exercise jointly
sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force
Joint Operations Command, and designed to train the U.S. Seventh Fleet
commander's staff and Australian Joint Operations staff as a designated
Combined Task Force (CTF) headquarters. The exercise focuses on crisis
action planning and execution of contingency response operations. U.S.
Pacific Command units and Australian forces will conduct land, sea and
air training throughout the training area. More than 11,000 U.S. and
6,000 Australian personnel will participate. U.S. Navy photo by
Photographers Mate 3rd Class Bo J. Flannigan (RELEASED)
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